Grip-tread for pneumatic tires.



PAIENI'IE-DAUG. 23, 1904.

v H. QWBED. GRIP TRBAD POR- PNEUMATIC TIRES.

APPLIOATIOI! nun m. 9.1004

.NO MODEL.

WITNESSES Patented August 23, 1904. I

HARRY D. WEED, OF CANASTOTA, NEW YORK.

GRlP-TREAD FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,495, dated August,23, 1904.

Application filedI'ebruary 9,1904 Serial No, 192,803 (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY D. WVEED, of Oanastota, in the county ofMadison, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Grip-Treads for-Pneu matic Tires, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in treads for pneumatic tires,and is particularly applicable for use on the traction-wheels ofautomobiles to prevent the tire from slipping on slippery pavements.

The object of my present invention is to provide a flexible andcollapsible grip or tread composed entirely of chains linked togetherand applied to the sides and periphery of the tire and held in placesolely by the inflation of the tire, and which is reversible so thateither side may be applied to the periphery of the tire, thus affordinga double wearingsurface. These grips or auxiliary treads are adapted tobe applied to the traction or driving wheels of automobiles, and one of,the important objects is to enable any one skilled or unskilled toeasily and quickly apply the'auxiliary tread when needed by partiallydeflating the tire and then placing the grip thereon, and finallyreinflating the tire to cause the transverse chains to partially embedthemselves into the periphery of said tire, where:

by the auxiliary tread or gripping device is firmly held in operativeposition against circumferential slipping on the tire.

Another object of equal importance is to construct the auxiliary grip ortread in such manner that it may be collapsed into a minimum space whennot in use to be carried in the vehicle, and owing to the fact that itis constructed of chains with comparatively short links it will beapparent that it may be compressed into a very small space, andtherefore can be placed under the seat or in any other availablereceptacle in the vehicle.

Other objects and uses will appear in the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a portion of avehicle-wheel, showing the rim and a pneumatic tire and my improvedtread or grip applied thereto and in operative position. Fig. 2 is a topplan of the parts.

seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sec- In carrying out the objectsstated it becomes necessary-to make the gripping device flexible in alldirections both circumferem.

ti'ally and transversely as well as radially and to avoid theme of rigidcircumferential tie-rods at the sides of the tire, so that when thelower face or tread of the tire is compressed by the weight of thesuperimposed load, thetransverse chains across the periphery will have afree flexing movement which readily conformsto the varyingcross-sectional contour of the tread of the tire and still maintains afirm grip thereon; and under such conditions it is imperative that theportions of the circumferential chains yield read:

ily to the varying conditions of the transverse chains, whereas if rigidcircumferential rods or tie-pieces were used it would be necessary toprovide them with a series of loops, and the continual buckling of therod would soon cause the metal tocrystallize'and break at its jointswiththe transverse connections. My purpose, therefore, in constructingthe gripping device wholly of chains is to permit the free flexingmovement of the side pieces or anchors to which the cross-chains aresecured, thereby obviating any liability of crystallization due to thebuckling or irregular strains,

In order to demonstrate the practicability I of my invention, I haveshown a pneumatic tire 1 as mounted upon a rim 2, and upon this tire isplaced my improved gripping device consisting of opposite parallelchains 3 and transverse chains 4, connecting the chains 3 at regularintervals throughout its length, the end links of the transversechains4: being permanently linked to similar links in the chains 3 directlyopposite to each other and at right angles to the chains 3.

The endlinks, as 5, at one end of th'echains 3 are of specialconstruction for receiving end links at the opposite ends of the chains3 to permit said ends to be detachably interlocked with each other andadjusted to conform to tires of different diameters. As seen in thedrawings,these links 5 are provided with opensided slots 6, which areundercut in the direction of pull when the chains are applied to thewheel to form a plurality of hooks 7, either of which may be interlockedwith the end links at the opposite end of the chain on the same side ofthe wheel or tire.

It is Well known that tires made by different manufacturers vary more orless in diameter, and this special construction of link just describedpermits the auxiliary tread or gripping device to be readily and easilyapplied when the tire is wholly or partially deflated, so that when saidtire is reinflated the transverse chains embed themselves into theperiphery of the tire.

The length of the chains 3 is substantially equal, but ofslightly-greater length than the inner circumference of the tire, so asto fit around the periphery of the rim 2.. but are of less length thanthe circle drawn through the center of the tire, and it isthereforeapparent that When the gripping device is placed in operativeposition, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the chains 3 lie in the planes ofthe opposite endfaces of the tire.

The chains 4: are of slightly less length than the are measured on across-section of the tire between the chains 3 when the tire isinflated,

inflated the chains t are embedded in the periphery of the tire. chainsiare of round-wire-twisted type, which are extremely flexible andprevent any liability of abrasion or cutting of the tire and at the sametime afford a series of grips at regular intervals throughout theperiphery of the tire,

which prevent slipping of said tire upon the pavement, and at the sametime owing to the fact that the cross-chains are embedded into the tirethey are also prevented from slipping relative to the tire, and yet thelinks are free to twist and turn in any direction to conform to thevarying contours of the tread of the tire WitllOU't liability ofinjuring the tire by abrasion. The links of the chains 3 are also madeof round wire and are short, but conuuaratively broad and flat, so thatwhen they are applied to the tire they lie flatwise against its sides.form of the link is immaterial, as applicant claims, broadly, the use ofthe opposite chains at the sides of the tire to which the transversechains t are flexibly connected.

In assembling this auxiliary tread or gripping device upon a wheel ortire said tire is first partially deflated, and the device is then drawncircumferentially around the tire, with the chams 3 at opposite sidesthereof and their ends brought together and hooked in the man- The linksof these crossit is evident, however, that the exact ner seen in Fig.(5. This operation brings the intermediate cross chains i transverselyaround the periphery of the tire substantially equidistant from eachother, after which the tire is reinflated and the cross-chains naturallyadjust themselves to the shortest distance around the tire between thechains 3 and are held in this position by being partially embedded inthe tire when inflated. In removing the gripping device this operationis reverscd-that is, the tire is partially deflated suflicient to permitthe ends of the chains 3 to be detached from each other, whereupon thewhole device may be then rolled or collapsed and placed under the seatof the vehicle or any other chamber and occupies a minimum space. Bothsides or faces of the gripping-tread are substantially identical, andthe tread is therefore reversible, so that either side may be used asthe gripping-surface, and when one side is worn the tread may bereversed or turned inside out, thus aliordiug double the amount ofwearing-surface and increasing the life of the tread.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is*- 1. A grip-treai'l for elastic tires comprisingside chains flexible in all directions whereby they maybe reversed sidefor side, interlock ing members on the ends of said chain, andcross-chains having their ends secured to the side chains and theirinner and outer faces si mi- 5 lar whereby either face may be placedagainst and it therefore follows that when the tire is the tire.

2. A grip-tread for elastic tires comprising parallel side chainscomposed of flat links dis posed flatwise with reference to the adjacentfaces of the tire, the opposite faces of said links being similarwhereby the chains may be reversed side for side, fastening members onthe ends of the chains detachably interlocked with each other, andcross-chains linked to the side chains and having both faces alike sothat either face may be presented to the tire.

3. Agrip-tread for elastic tires comprising two parallel side chainshaving a plurality of hooks at one end to receive the links of theopposite end, and cross-chains linked to the side chains and having bothfaces alike whereby either face may be presented to the tire.

at. A grip-tread for elastic tires comprising parallel lengthwisechains, the links at one end each having a plurality of books to receivethe l opposite end links, and parallel cross-chains equidistant fromeach other and connected to the lengthwise chains.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of February,190

HARRY l). \YEEI).

\Vitnesses:

H. E. nasn, MILDRED M. New.

